God is available to meet with you right now
Does it scare you to think about being transparent with someone concerning the areas you struggle with?
When I first heard of the concept of accountability, I knew I needed it. In time, it became one of God’s greatest tools to help me break free of my destructive behaviors.
But accountability only works when we’re transparent. If the thought of sharing some of your most shameful moments with someone scares you too much, maybe your heavenly Father can be that Someone.
One of the safest and most secure feelings I have about God is that He knows me. Completely. I need this kind of security. I need Someone Who knows me better than I know myself. Someone I can’t hide from. Someone I can’t fool.
This is why Psalm 139:23 (ESV) is so reassuring:
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
In the past, I lied to myself (and others) to conceal my eating disorder and other destructive habits. I played so many games until I didn’t know for sure who I really was. But God always knew the real me. And He always will. Even today, I continue to ask God to show me any hidden and deceitful areas and give me His grace to yield to the guidance and correction I need.
Have you gotten so lost in your own lies that you need Someone to fully know the real you, too? Do you want God to help you stop playing games and help you own up to your painful and sometimes sinful habits? Are you willing to let Him reveal to you your defense mechanism – the thought processes you’ve used to hide or justify your behavior? Your wise heavenly Father will gradually and lovingly reveal secret sins you’ve hidden from yourself, giving you time to heal before disclosing the next one. In time, He can give you the courage to seek out a trusted mentor to discuss your progress (or lack of it) and receive encouragement and prayer.
God is available to meet with you right now. Will you allow Him to search your heart so you can live with less shame and regret?
I can’t begin to imagine all God knows about me, good and bad. But I’m glad He knows all of it. And that He still loves me – extravagantly.
What about you?
You can use a pseudonym (fake name) when commenting.
- How do you feel about accountability?
If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Today Can Be Different online and leave a comment. If you would like to subscribe to this blog and receive the most recent post to your inbox, see sidebar! There’s no charge for this service. AND, I’d be tickled if you would consider sharing this post 🙂
Hi Cheryl,
I subscribed to your blog some time ago and promptly forgot all about it.
This arrived in my in box at exactly the right moment and feel you must have written it just for me.
I was carrying out some things I was not proud of and told myself it was for the right reasons. I then met the most wonderful Christian man I have ever known, but I have hurt him badly and at this moment I am sitting in my bed, in London, England crying and feeling very sorry for myself.
We are planning to make a life together and I wanted to stop my behaviour, but was too weak to make the final decision. Whilst having a WhatsApp call, he asked me if I had been busy and I told him what I had been doing. My idea was to discuss my behaviour with him and plan the way out.
It had the opposite affect to what I expected and it has caused him a lot of pain. We have spent hours discussing the situation and hopefully he is sleeping.
I always try to do the right thing, be open and honest, but on this occasion, I wish I had kept my thoughts between me and God. I have jepodised the one thing in my life that I want the most, for the sake of clearing my own conscience. I do wish God would search my heart and tell me what lessons I should learn from this.
I have been waiting for the answer and your blog appeared, so I suspect you will have the best advice on this.
I see you are happily married and I wish you all the best, but I fear I have messed up my chances of a happy marriage.
Hi, Linda. My heart aches for you. I think most of us can relate to your story, in one way or another. My prayer for you is that you will continue to draw comfort from your heavenly Father trusting Him to complete the work He’s already begun in you. As you continue leaning on His truth and obeying His Word, you will begin to reap a brighter future.
Please don’t give up, Linda. God is faithful. Don’t listen to the discouraging thoughts echoing in your heart right now. Spend LOTS of time reading the Bible. Cast ALL of your anxiety and cares on your heavenly Father’s shoulder. Rejoice KNOWING that He loves you and knows how to guide you through this.
Please keep in touch and thank you so much for sharing with us.
Thank you so much.
You’re are so welcome, Linda.
Hello Sheryl, My name is William and I’m Linda Christian man. I would like to tell you and your readers we serve a mighty God but you already know that. Early this Sunday morning 6:30 AM I was catching a flight, everyone was quite and the person sitting next to me was already asleep. Great time for my morning devotion “The Upper Room” after finishing I got very still and prayed to Jesus to take away my burden. The anger I was holding on too because it was changing who God wanted me to be. I was not a compassionate and understanding person willing to listen when a friend needed someone to talk to about accountability when they have made a poor choice. When the one hour flight was over Jesus had taken away my burden and I was no longer angry. While waiting for my connecting flight I texted Linda on WhatsApp to tell her the news good that Jesus has healed my broken heart and that I was ready to listen not judge and love. That my first reaction was not my best example of christian values and that I was being selfish and only thinking of my feeling not her’s who was asking for help. God can help us if we open our hearts and mind and follow him. I pray and hope we both haven’t permanently damaged our future but we give each other the benefits of the doubt to correct our mistakes and misunderstanding and not judge each other so harshly. Your friend in Christ
Hi, William. I LOVE it when God does things like He did in your story! I consider it a miracle each time He intervenes in my heart. Thank you for dropping by … I hope you do so again (and again).
Thank you William and Linda for sharing your heart felt testimony.
Indeed. Thanks, Barbara. It’s always good to hear from others.